Temperature-regulating apparatus.



PATBNTED MAR. 24,- 1903.' W. P. POWERS,

TEMPERATURE REGULATING APPARATUS. I0 monim.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 14, 1898.

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No. 723,728. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

W. P. POWERS. I

TEMPERATURE REGULATING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 159a.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

\VILLIAM P. POWERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEMPERATURE-REGULATING APPARATUS.

QiPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,728, dated March24, 1903.

Application filed March 14,1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. POWERS, of Chicago, in the county ofCookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Temperature-Regulating Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to certain im provements intemperature-regulating apparatus, and more particularly to certainimprovements in the thermostat thereof.

The thermostat of this application belongs to that class known asfluid-pressure therber or vessel, usually of fiat oval form, containinga liquid vaporizing at low temperature, such vaporization operating tomove one or both walls of the vessel, and thereby impart throughsuitable instrumentalities a movement to some element of theheat-regulating apparatus. As most generally applied, the movement ofthe wall of the vessel containing The volatile liquid is made to open avalve controlling a port or passage, through which a motor fluid ispermitted to'pass to a motor, which in turn operates to move a valve ordamper governing the How of a heating medium.

The thermostatic device which is shown in this application is capable ofbeing used for other purposes than regulatingtemperature; but adescription thereof with relation to that purpose will besufficient toindicate the principle of operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure-1 is a diagrammatic view showingthe application of my invention as a part of a temperaturecontrollingapparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one form of the thermostatdesigned for controlling steam-valves. Fig. 2? is a plan view of theupper end of the tubular member and lug of the thermostat-shown in Fig.2, showing the air ports or passages. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the upper end ofthe thermostat shown in Fig. 2, and Figs. 4and 5 are respectively front and rear elevations thereof. Fig.6 is adetail view'sh'owing the constructionof the expansible chamber. Figs. 7,8, and 9show a modified form of theinvention, Fig. 7 being a frontelevation, Fig. 8 a sectional elevation,

and Fig. 9 a plan view of the upper end of Serial No. 673,766. (Nomodel.)

and a motor for automatically controlling said escape, while inthethermostat of Figs. 7, S, and 9 the air-escape and its motor areomitted and a second diaphragm is employed. i

Let 10 represent a frame-plate ofany convenient form, which is providedwith screwholes at ll for securing it to a wall-plate.

For convenience also the upper end of said plate has an angular lug orofiset 12, drilled to provide two passages 13 and 14, both of which leadinto theinterior of a'pipe 15, formed integrally with the log 12 andplate 10 and having at its lower end the arms 16 and the standards 17,connected by a web 18 with the lower end of the plate 10. The passage 13may be filled with a suitable air-filtering material, such as wicking orwaste, as indicated in Figs. 2am] 8. The tubular member or pipe 15 maybeparallel to the plate 10, and between them is afforded space for theintroduction of the expansible chamber or vessel 19, popularly called adisk and which is composed of two sheets of corrugated metal joined attheir edges and providing between them a liquid-chamber 20 to contain avolatile liquid, as shown at 21. This disk or vessel is carried by alever 22, supported at one endupon 'a screw 23,"thread ed into the lowerendof theplate. 10. The lever 22 has secured'tliereto a leaf-spring 24,whose upper end is bifurcated to embrace the lnglZ, as seen in Fig. '5.The vessel 19 is held between'the spring-clamps 25 and 26, preferably ofsheet-steel and of spider form. The outer ends of the arms of theseclamps are joined by the clips 27, held to the arms by projecting'pointsthereon, which enter small apertures or countersunk too depressions inthe ends of the arms, as shown in the detail view, Fig. (5. The clampsand 26, with their clips 27, constitute a reinforcingframe for the diskor expansible chamber. The disk may be made out of thin metal and theclamps of a stronger material and serving to reinforce or support thethin walls of thedisk, while the form of clips used afford a convenientmeans for connecting the extremities of the clamps, while permittingthem to expand and contract with the disk. The clamp 26 carries athreaded nut 28, which receives a screw 29, which passes through the endof the lever 22 and the end of the spring 24, thus bodily securing thevessel 1'.) with the lever and spring. Upon the opposite side of thevessel and in close proximity to its clamp 25 is one end of a U- shapedlever 30, the opposite end of which is introduced intothe bore of thepipe 15 and extends therothrough nearly the full length of thepassageaterminating a little short of a hollow plug 31, having a minuteorifice 32 therein and Forming at its outerend a valveseat. The lever isfulcrumed or pivoted at 33 to a clam ping-ring 34, the latter being heldby screws 35 to the pipe 15. In order to form an air-tight joint orseal, which will prevent the escape of the fluid under pressure in thepipe around the bent lever 30 and yet permit the free movement of thelatter upon its fulcrum, a flexible packing in the form of a tube 36 isdrawn over I he lever 30 and having at one end a flange clamped betweenthe ring 3% and the end of the pipe 15. As will be seen, the packing isflexed when the lever moves; but the fulcrum of the lever is so near thejoint formed by the packing that only a very slight [lesion or bendingof the packing takes place The upper end of the tube 15 is closed by thescrew-plug 37, and the internal wall of the tube 15 is provided withslotsSS, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, to receive a plate 39, to which isattached at one end a spring-plate 40, carrying the valve 11. Thespring'plate 40 contacts with the end of the lever 30, which is slightlyupturned. Assuming now that the liquid in the vessel 20 expands byreason of a rise in temperature, the walls of said vessel will distendor separate, thus transmitting motion to the arm of the lever 30,rocking said lever upon its pivot and in turn moving the valve 41 awayfrom its seat. Upon a fall of temperature the walls of the vessel willcontract, and the spring-plate 10 will return the valve to its seat.

Itis found desirable to provide adjustments for the apparatus, and tothis end the screw 23 affords the primary means of adjustment and is tobe used in setting up the thermostat. A further means of adjustment isshown in the threaded pl ug 2, Working in the threadbe set to anydesired degree, and the device Will operate when the temperature of theapartment containing the thermostatapproximates that point. A permanentwasteis provided in a boss 47, having a screw 48 to control theescape-opening. This waste is in the retu rn-passage leading from thevalve 32, and in the form of construction shown in Figs. 2 to 5,inclusive, it is provided in the lug 12 and leads from the passage 13,while in the form ofconstructiou shown in Figs. 7, S, and 9 it islocated in the tube 15.

I will now describe the operation of the thermostat shown in Figs. 2 to5, inclusive, assuming that the passage 13 is connected by pipe X with amotor 4:!) and that the passage 14 is connected by pipe Y with areservoir 50 of compressed air and that the valve 41 is closed. It,then, the thermostat acts so as to open the valve, air would enter thevalvechamber through the passage 1% and flow through the passage 13 intothe motor 49 above its diaphragm. Obviously if this motor was connectedto and designed to operate a steam-valve and the rise of temperature wasvery slow it would take a considerable time for sut'ficient pressure toaccumulate in the motor to close the valve, or, in other words, theaction upon the valve would be slow and graduahwhich is objectionable.To secure a more prompt and elfectual closing of the valve, as isdesirable, a second escapeopening is provided at some point between theair-controlling valve and the main motor 49, and a second motor isprovided which controls this escape. This second motor is so arrangedthat it will permit the escape of air until the valve 41 has openedsufficiently to admit air in such volume as to effectually operate,through the motor, to close the main valve. For convenience thisair-escape is formed in the lug containing the passage 13, and thesecond motor is attached to and mounted upon said lug. Theescape-aperture is marked 51, and the motor-base comprises the plate 52,terminating in a threaded boss, which contains the passage 51 and formsa portion of the motor-chamber. A diaphragm 53 is clamped to said plateby means of the threaded cap 51 and washer 54. The diaphragm isperforated at its center to receive a threaded boss 55 on a cup 56, andthe usual nut 57 holds the cup and diaphragm in proper relation. Anaperture 58 is provided in line with the aperture 51 through thisthreaded boss and the bottom of the cup, and the bottom of the cup formsa valve-seat. The valve 59 slides within thecup 56, being confinedtherein and its motion limited by the cap 60 and normally held down by aspring 61. Ahea'vierspringGZisinterposedbetween the cap 5:1: and theflange of the cup 56 and acts in opposition to the pressure exerted onthe diaphragm. Normally the escape would be closed by the spring 61; butas this closing should only be effected when the thermostat has openedthe valve sufiiciently to admit the to escape through passages 51 and 58and 0pen-- ings 63 and 64. For this purpose a drag is employed whichconsists of a slotted tube 65,

which has a threaded stem passing throughan aperture in cap 54, and anut is applied to the stem. The slotted body 65 is snugly fitted intothe valve and tends by friction to hold the valve above its seat. When asufficient air-pressure is secured by the further opening of the valve41, the diaphragm 53 is flexed, carrying the valve-seat up against thevalve and closing the escape. The escape being thus closed, thepressurewill accumulate rapidly in the diaphragm-chamber of the main motor, thusclosing the main valve. The pressure also operates on the diaphragm ofthe second motor controlling the escape, lift-.

ing the diaphragm of the escape-controlling motor, overcoming thefriction of the drag and the tension of the large spring and raising thediaphragm 53 until the cap 60 comes in contact with the cap 54. Theaction upon the diaphragm of the second motor is not completed untilafter the main valve has been firmly seated,. thus storing sufiicientpower in the spri'ng62'tio, secure the opening of the escape on thereturn movement before the pressure in the main iihotor is releasedsufficiently to permitthe m'ainl'valve to open again. When thetemperature of the apartment falls, the expansible chamber orthermostat-disk 7 con tracts,the air controlling valve 41 is closed,

and the air in the system wastes through the permanent escape 47 untilthe pressure is reduced, so that thespring 62 will begin to return thediaphragm 53, the-friction of the drag upon the valve restraining thelatter sufficiently to again open the escape,"jw,hereupon the airescapes rapidly and-permits the main valve to open quickly andfully."Ad-- justment for diiferent temperatures-is secured by operating theadjusting screw-plug "42,,

which moves the expansible chamber bodily. Thus if the plug be turned-soas to .move the chamber away from the end of lever 30 it will require ahigher temperature to cause sufficient expansion to secure a move-.

ment of the lever, while if theplug be turned in the opposite directionthe spring 24' will move the vessel toward thee'nd of lever 30 and alower temperature will cause expansion adequate to secure the movementof the lever and the opening of the valve.

The form of thermostat shown in Figs 7,} 8, and 9 is, as before stated,particularly de-j signed to be used in handling dampers or valves wherea more gradual action is desir able. In this construction, therefore,the

controllable escape and its motor-(shown in Fig. 2) are omitted and adiaphragm is used which resists or acts in opposition to the expansiblechamber or thermostat-disk. This diaphragm (marked 66) is secured at itsedges to an annular plate 67 on the side of the pipe 15, the pipe beingopen at 15 to admitthe air-pressure to act upon the inner side of thediaphragm. The, center of the diaphragm is opposite the end of the lever30 .and is in close proximity and when operat to the reservoir and thepassage 14 to the motor reversely to the connection described withreference to Fig. 2. .Air entering the pipe 15 will now exert a pressureupon the diaphragm 66, and consequently tend toretard the movement ofthe lever 30,'due to the expansion of the disk, and if the pressure ofthe air admitted preponderates over the power of the disk the valve 41will return to its seat, thus permitting no more air to enter the pipeand the pressures remain in equilibrium so long as the temperatureremains stationary. If, however, the temper ature continues torise,additional force will be exerted by the expansion of the volatileliquidchamber, the lever will be rocked, and the valve again opened, thuspermitting air to enter the pipe 15 until the power exerted upon thediaphragm 66 again balances the expansive force of the liquid in thecham-' heating systems, where the water of condensation is returnedthrough separate pipes. It will be observed, however, that the struc-'tural features of the body of the thermostat and its operating parts,particularly of the bent lever, the valve, and expansible chamber formoving the bent lever are the same ICC in both forms of construction,the modifications being designed to secure a moreiorless prompt actionof the valves in difierent classes of work. Upon a fall of temperaturethe expansible chamber againcontractsand the excess of pressure escapesthrough the permanent waste 47, permitting the damper toigradually open.

Having thus described my invention and without intending to limit thesame tooprecise'details of construction or arrangement of partsor theuse of all of my improvements to precise object for which they arehereinfap plied, I ,,clain1 3 1. Ina temperature-con trolling apparatus,the combination with a thermostat for controlling'a motor-fiuidinlet, ofa main valve for controlling the heat-supply and a motor for operatingsaid valve, means for allowing a gradual waste or depletion of the motorfluid, and a supplemental waste between the main-valve motor and themotor-fluid inlet,

a'valve controlling the supplemental waste and a second motorindependent of'the mainvalve motor for controlling the supplementalwastevalve, substantially as described.

2. In a temperature-controlling apparatus,

the combination with a thermostat for con.- trolling a motor-fluidinlet, a drain valve governing the heat-supply, a motor for operatingsaid main valve, an escape-valve between the main-valve motor and themotor-fluid inlet, and a second motor independent of the mainvalve motorfor controlling the escape-valve, said motor being adapted by itsinitial movement to actuate said escape-valve, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a temperature-controlling apparatus, the combination with apressure-fluid supply, a valve controlling said supply, a thermostat forcontrolling said valve, a main valve governing the heat-supply, a motorfor controlling said main valve, an escape-valve between thefluid-supply inlet and the main-valve motor and a second motorindependent of the main-valve motor and accessible to the motor fluidbetween the inlet and the main-valve motor and actuated thereby tocontrol the escape-valve, substantially as described.

at. In a temperature controlling apparatus, the combination with a valvefor controlling a motor-fluid supply, of a thermostat for operating-saidvalve, and a support for said thermostat, said support comprising an armor lever pivotally mounted and adapted to oscillate or rock upon itspivot and having a resilient or elastic portion having a bearing at itsextremity, and means for rocking the support upon its axis and therebymoving the thermostat bodily in relation to the valve, substantially asdescribed.

5. A thermostat having a base portion, a tubular member parallelthereto, a pivoted lever having a resilient portion, an expansiblechamber mounted upon said lever and bodily movable therewith, and a bentlever having one arm thereof arranged adjacent to the wall of theexpansible chamber and the other entering said tubular member andadapted to operate a valve therein, substantially as described.

6. In a thermostat, the combination, with an expansible chamberconsisting of a vessel of flat oval form having expansible walls, and areinforcing frame or holder therefor consisting of clamp membersconstructed of elastic material and clips adapted to embrace the edgesof the vessel and engage the extremities of the clamps, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a thermostat, the combination, with an expansible chamber, of apressure-fluidsupply passage, a valve therein, a lever having one endarranged in proximity to the movable wall of said expansible chamber andits opposite end arranged within said passage and adapted to actuatesaid valve, said lever being pivoted between its ends and a flexiblepacking adapted to form an air-tight joint near the pivot of said lever,substantially as described.

8. In a thermostat, the combination, with an expansible chamber, ofapressure-fluidsupply passage, a valve therein,.a lever having one endarranged in proximity to the movable wall of said expansible chamber andits opposite end arranged within said passage and adapted to actuatesaid valve, said lever being pivoted between its ends and a flexiblepacking adapted to form an air-tight joint near the pivot of said leverand between said pivot and the valve, substantially as described.

9. In a thermostat, the combination, with an expansible chamber having amovable wall, a pressure-fiuid-supply pipe or passage, a valve adaptedto control said passage, means for actuating the valve, said meanscomprising a lever pivoted between its ends, one end of said lever beingadapted to be operated by the movable wall of said expansible chamberand the other end being adapted to operate said valve, and a tubularpacking applied to said lever and having a clampingflange and adapted toform an air-tight joint in proximity to the pivot ot' the lever,substantially as described.

10. In a valve, the combination, with a tubular member having open endsand affording a passage forapressure fluid and a valveseat, of avalve-support consisting of a plate adapted to enter the bore of saidtubular member, the latter having grooves therein to receive said plateand a flexible strip secured at one end to said plate and carrying avalve upon its free end, substantially as described.

11. A thermostatic device for controlling the passage of a motor fluid,comprising a chamber with suitable ports or passages for the motorfluid, a valve within said chamber, an expansible chamber or motor foroperating the valve, a lever pivoted between its ends and having one ofits ends arranged adjacent to the movable wall of the expansible chamberor motor and adapted to be moved thereby, and the other end thereofextending into said valve-chamber and adapted to operate the valvethereof and a diaphragm arranged to bear upon the lever in opposition tothe disk and exposed to the pressure of the motor fluid passing thevalve, substantially as described.

WILLIAM P. POWERS.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. GooDWIN, IRVINE MILLER.

